1 The Event That Changes everything…
2 Spurgeon "Come, see the place where the Lord lay," with joy and gladness. He does not lie there now. Weep, when ye see the tomb of Christ, but rejoice because it is empty. Thy sin slew him, but his divinity raised him up. Thy guilt hath murdered him, but his righteousness hath restored him. Oh! he hath burst the bonds of death, he hath ungirt the cerements of the tomb, and hath come out more than conqueror, crushing death beneath his feet. Rejoice, O Christian, for he is not there—he is risen.
3 I. The Consequences of the ResurrectionThe Supreme Confirmation of Who Jesus Is If the Resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion (1 Corinthians 15:12-19) 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
4 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
5 1 Corinthians 15:15-19 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
6 Why is the Resurrection so important?The Supreme Confirmation of Who Jesus Is If the Resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion (1 Corinthians 15:12-19) If it did take place, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. Romans 1:1-4 1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,
7 Romans 1:1-4 1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord…
8 William R. Newell Thus Christ, now risen and glorified, is Himself the righteousness of believers... It is the Risen Christ who is our righteousness. “Christianity begins at the resurrection.” The work of the cross of course made Christianity possible; but true Christianity is all on the resurrection side of the cross. “He is not here, but is risen,” the angel said.
9 I. The Consequences of the ResurrectionThe Superlative Conquest of Human History! There have been many conquests in God’s dealings with men But the SUPERLATIVE conquest of them all was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! Jesus conquered the three greatest enemies of mankind: SIN, DEATH, and SATAN! Jesus Christ won the victory by His resurrection! Calling of pagan, polytheistic, Abraham out of Ur of the Caldees to receive one of God’s more prolific promises The humbling of Pharaoh and the leading of His people to the promised Land The use of a young David to slay the giant Goliath The slaying of 185,000 of Sennacherib’s Assyrian Army at the gates of Hezekiah’s Jerusalem The sparing of Daniel’s three companions in Nebuchanezzar’s fiery furance The raising of Lazarus, Tabitha and others from the dead.
10 II. The Concern of Death Death Hebrews 2:14-1514 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
11 Death - Man’s Greatest EnemyDeath has conquered all men but Christ No matter how brilliant, rich or strong No man is smart enough to outwit death No man is successful enough to purchase freedom from death No man is strong enough to vanquish death The grave always wins and man returns to the dust The triumph of death applies to all things Animals die and plants die Cities and nations are born and grow and then fade away Clothes, homes, cars, appliances all wear out and eventually go back to the dust All creation itself itself is running down and heading toward an ultimate “energy death”
12 The Bondage of CreationRomans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. The Second Law of Thermodynamics A universal law in science No known exception ever observed Every system moves from order to disorder, it runs down and eventually dies The Law of Increasing Entropy Entropy, a measure of disorder, always tends to increase Even humanity is subject to entropy from the day of birth
13 The Uniqueness of ChristAll other men have died – man is subject to death Buddha, Mohammed, Zoroaster, Confucius, Caesar, Marx But Jesus Christ is alive! Jesus did die and was buried, but unlike all other men He resurrected His own dead body (John 10:17-18) He emerged from the tomb alive; never to die again! The greatest of all miracles Proves that Jesus is indeed God, just as He had claimed to be John 10:17-18 17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."
14 III. The Conquests of JesusVictory Over Sin From the garden of Eden, man has been engaged in a battle against sin Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned — John 10:17-18 17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."
15 Jesus Has Conquered SinRomans 7:15, 18-19, 24 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? John 10:17-18 17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."
16 Jesus Has Conquered SinThe answer to Paul’s question: Jesus Christ has triumphed over sin by His resurrection! He and He alone can deliver us! Romans 7:25 – “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” John 10:17-18 17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."
17 Jesus Has Conquered SinBy His death on the cross and His resurrection, Christ provided the way that our sin can be removed and God can declare us perfectly righteous in Him… Romans 4:25 [Jesus] who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
18 Isaiah 53:4-6 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
19 Is It Well With Your Soul?My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
20 In Christ Alone This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save Till on that cross, as Jesus died; the wrath of God was satisfied For all my sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live
21 Two Problems Of Sin 1. Sin invokes a penalty no one can pay2. Sin involves a power no one can overcome
22 John Piper “The point is not that the resurrection is the price paid for our sins. The point is that the resurrection proves the death of Jesus is an all-sufficient price. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then his death was a failure, God did not vindicate his sin-bearing achievement, and we are still in our sins.”
23 Jesus Has Conquered SinThe power of the resurrection gives us DAILY victory over sin Philippians 3:10 …that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
24 Romans 6:1-4 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. . .
25 Romans 6:10-12 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts…
26 Jesus Has Conquered SatanSatan – since the Garden has been trying to destroy God’s plan of salvation! It was Satan’s influence (sometimes indirect; sometimes direct) that was behind… Cain’s killing righteous Abel - but God gave Seth! Abraham’s doubt and unbelief to bear Ishmael - but God miraculously gave Isaac Joseph’s brothers selling him as a slave to Egypt - but God saved his whole family through Joseph’s faithfulness! David’s sin of lust, worthy of death - but God gave him a repentant heart.
27 Jesus Has Conquered SatanIt was Satan’s influence (sometimes indirect; sometimes direct) that was behind… Herod’s killing all the male children two years old and under - but God directed Joseph to take baby Jesus to Egypt Judas’ betraying of Jesus, leading to His crucifixion There was the supposed “triumph” Satan had waited for! Thousands of years of diabolical planning had seemingly paid off! For three days Satan and his demons thought they had won!
28 Jesus Has Conquered The EnemiesBut early on the third morning, Christ rose from the dead, and Sin, Death, and Satan were defeated! 1 Peter 3:21-22 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. 1 Peter 3:21-22 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
29 1 John 3:7-8 7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
30 Jesus Has Conquered SatanAs an influence, Satan is a defeated enemy - he no longer has control over us, as long as we are controlled by the living Christ! Colossians 2:13-15 – 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. 1 Peter 3:21-22 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
31 In Christ Alone No guilt in life; no fear in death; this is the power of Christ in me From life’s first cry to final breath; Jesus commands my destiny No power of Hell, no scheme of man Can every pluck me from His hand “Till He returns or calls me home; here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
32 What Happens…? The moment you receive Jesus, the resurrected Christ into your life, at least three things happen… Your sin is removed The Holy Spirit indwells you, empowering you to resist the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. You have eternal life (presently and future) 1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has the life…
33 The Blessed Exchange Our sin in exchange for Christ’s righteousness!Our weakness in exchange for Christ’s power! Our death in exchange for Christ’s life!
34 This changes everything…